(ANS - Rome) – More than 150 Salesians and FMA sisters in initial formation took part, together with their formation personnel and the organizing team, in the Salesian Social Communication Days at the Salesian Pontifical University on 17-18 April. The meeting was organized by the University in conjunction with the FMA Sectors and the SDB Departments for Social Communication and Formation. The seminar gave some good recommendations regarding work with the family, which is the theme of this year’s Synod.

The SDB and FMA Councillors for Social Communication and the Master of Novices from Genzano and the FMA Novice Mistress, responded to some questions:

Fr Filiberto González, SDB Councillor for Social Communication, responded to the question "Is there any relationship between this year’s theme and last year’s? 

In proposing this theme, "Communicating Family: the privileged environment for the encounter of the gift of love," Pope Francis is placing people at the centre of communication, in continuity with the theme he offered last year: "Communication at the service of an authentic culture of encounter". He encourages us to penetrate the deeper reality of communication and get beyond the practice that focuses quickly on the theme of communication in the media, technology, the internet and digital communication, forgetting that the person is the inspiration and the source of all communication. So this year’s message highlights the centrality of the person through the theme of family, which is both paradigm and context for authentic communication.

Fr Raffaele Panno, Master of Novices at Genzano, responded to the question "What is the main challenge of the new culture of communication in the formation of consecrated persons?"

It seems to me that it is the anthropological challenge, but the problem is that we are not very conscious of it. The culture of communication and communications technology is affecting the person and groups, institutions and organizations, and the whole of society, and we are no exception. Our language and behaviour are changing, and our relationships with others, with nature and with God, as well as our way of perceiving and being in the world, our values and our interests, concepts and meanings, among other many things. It is important to bear in mind that our candidates in formation come from this culture.

Sr Antonina Terravecchia, FMA Novice Mistress, underlined: 

We experienced the theme proposed by Pope Francis from the moment we arrived at the UPS. We felt the family atmosphere of welcome and sharing immediately. The younger generation is very spontaneous, open and available. It is a great joy to meet again, and to meet new novices. From the topic, and from the time we have spent together, we can see that the family spirit is an essential part of our spirituality.

Sr Maria Helena Moreira, Councillor of the Sector of Social Communication, concluded with a message to the participants:

We thank each of you for coming. Your presence is a sign of true hope, the joy of being in a family that is growing. "Did not our hearts burn while the Lord spoke to us?” So let's go from here with a sincere commitment to take care of our formation as disciples of Jesus, in the culture of communication, always attentive to the journey of others, to the cry and entreaties of young people and young families who are suffering. May none of us lose the family dream, the dream of being a family, living in family communion.

Published 20/04/2015